Vivek Ramaswamy campaign releases ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has launched a $4 million attack ad featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic nominee Amy Acton, accusing Acton of lying about her childhood. The move sparked fierce backlash from Democrats and Acton's family, who noted Acton has been estranged from Arthur since childhood following Arthur's husband being charged with sexually abusing 12-year-old Acton. Acton's campaign responded with an ad featuring her brother, Philip Stearns, denouncing Ramaswamy's tactics.

Details of the Ramaswamy attack ad

• ▪Vivek Ramaswamy's gubernatorial campaign invested $4 million to run the attack ad featuring Donna Arthur on television and online across Ohio
• ▪Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed on October 20, 2026, that his campaign produced an attack ad featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of Democratic nominee Amy Acton
• ▪Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign spokesperson stated that Donna Arthur was not paid for her appearance in the one-minute campaign spot attacking Amy Acton

Response from Amy Acton's brother

• ▪Philip Stearns stated that Donna Arthur remained married to her husband who sexually abused Amy Acton until his death
• ▪Amy Acton's campaign released a response ad featuring her brother, Philip Stearns, who condemned Vivek Ramaswamy for politicizing the sexual abuse Acton endured at age 12

Democratic criticism of the attack ad

• ▪Ohio Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown called Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring Donna Arthur disgusting and urged his Republican opponent, Jon Husted, to condemn it
• ▪Democratic Representative Greg Landsman described Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring Donna Arthur as one of the most despicable things he has seen in politics
• ▪The Democratic Governors Association issued a statement characterizing Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring Donna Arthur as part of a relentless smear campaign

History of Amy Acton's childhood abuse

• ▪Amy Acton stated she has been estranged from her mother, Donna Arthur, since approximately age 12, after Arthur's husband abused Acton and faced criminal charges
• ▪In a 2019 interview, Amy Acton detailed living in a tent outside Youngstown, Ohio, with her family while enduring childhood abuse from her stepfather
• ▪Court documents confirm that Donna Arthur's husband was charged with sexually abusing 12-year-old Amy Acton, leading to Acton and her brother being removed from Donna Arthur's custody

Donna Arthur's public statements

• ▪Donna Arthur stated in a 2020 interview with Operation Rescue that she was present at grand jury proceedings regarding Amy Acton's allegations of childhood abuse
• ▪Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson Connie Luck stated that Donna Arthur first spoke out publicly regarding Amy Acton in 2020

2026 Ohio gubernatorial election

• ▪Amy Acton declined to debate Vivek Ramaswamy ahead of the November 3, 2026, election, citing his personal attacks and dishonest advertising
• ▪Polling for the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election shows a close race between Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy, with some polls showing Acton leading by 7 points
• ▪Democratic nominee Amy Acton and Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy are competing in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election to replace term-limited Governor Mike DeWine